Do Cadet Force Units need a dedicated medical pack ?

There are over 38,000 army cadets in the United Kingdom of whom about 20,000 attend a two week annual camp each summer.

In response to criticisms from the medical staff attached to cadet units about the suitability of the routinely issued medical pack, a national questionnaire survey of all serving Army Cadet Force medical personnel has been performed, along with an analysis of patient attendances at annual camp between 1989 and 1992 in one East Midlands County Force.

In particular the appropriateness of the Medical Treatment Pack Training Camp Large as currently issued to cadet units has been examined.

The findings suggest that, on its own, the pack is unsuitable to treat about 40% of cadets who attend for medical treatment during annual camp ; medical staff on average rate its suitability for cadets as very low.

Moreover, there is objective evidence that most cadet units need to obtain extra medical supplies, particularly bronchodilators, modern antibiotics and modern dressings ; many do so via private purchases from civilian sources.